Syrian opposition to meet in Qatar

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Syrian opposition to meet in Qatar, 4 November 2012, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/509b8b152.html [accessed 4 March 2015]

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November 04, 2012

Demonstrators hold opposition flags during a protest against Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, after Friday prayers in Binsh near Idlib on November 2.

Hundreds of Syrian opposition figures are beginning a five-day conference today in the Qatari capital Doha.

On the agenda is a U.S.-backed proposal to set up a new 50-member leadership team with more representatives from inside Syria.

Under the plan, called the Syrian National Initiative, the new leadership would include representatives of the rebels' Free Syrian army, political groups and local councils in Syria.

Burhan Ghalioun, a senior SNC member, said on November 3 that the group is willing to consider the idea, but hasn't decided yet.

U.S. officials have long complained that the opposition disarray has held back more robust foreign involvement behind the opposition in its fight to topple Bashar al-Assad.